Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-03-03
GROWING FOREST TREES.
Interesting Experiments Made 1t tAs
Michigan Agricultural College.

Interesting Experiments Made at the
Michigan Agricultural College.
A recent report from Prof. Bealc. OF
tho Agricultural College Of Michigan.
contains valuable lessons on the grow
ing OF forest trees. After an expert
ence in the college arbore,um. begin
ming with the summer OF 1875. Prof.
Beale Is OF the opinion that until per-
son begins to plant aud cultivate trees
and shrubs. as there attempted. he
does not realize how little any one in
this country knows about the best sorts
10 select and how to treat them from
the seeds to mature trees. For want OF
information. mistakes have been made,
but even these mistakes often teach as
much rs successes. Whether Michigan
men ever grow forest trees for profit OF
not the information acquired in grow
ing an aboretum has been the means ~
hepling to answer many inquiries.
Hardness of tree depends. accord
ing TO Prof. Btale. on many things. IA
elevation. soil. drainage. exposure.
cultivation. rapidity of growth. whether
crowded or grown with plenty Of room,
the nature Of the summers, springs and
winters, or any one or all of these. and
doubtless on still other conditions.
During the winter of slSS5-s6.' which
was rs cold rs any in twenty years-Ss
degrees T. below zero thrifty sprouts
of magnolia umbrella Remained alive
To the terminal bud.'while these mag
nolias usually. even In mild wint's,
die to the snow line, This ~ pro-
fcssor considers to be- perhap owing tc
tine ,ac. .,i., nhs~~ WAS pleny Of moist
urc in the soil or little wind. or no sun
shine during the freezing period, ar foI
some reason NOT vet understood. Foi
six years number If trees ~ the
American perSimmon died every winter
near To the ground. From this Prof
Beale supposed himself warranted ir
pronouncing this well-known tree ~
tender in Central Michigan. Two year,
ago he CHANGED to wish a garlcn ~
high clay land. less than ten miles dis
tana where youpg -trreS of the .Saln'
kind were healthy AMI hardy, aud. kat
borne fruit two .,aasenS in succession
Other instances of similar nature coulC
be given. -
Prof Bcalc describe, the method o
growing trees in the arborctum n
follows: In starting trees. the seed,
were usually planted when freshly
gathered, JUST WHERE the trees were tS
remain. The rowswcrc fonr feet apar'
and ran north aud south. For five ~
six years, and in SOME eases more. they
were regularly cultivated like :
fcld of corn. till about the mid
die Of August. A very little trimming
had been done 10y way Of removing
lead limbs aud preventing had
rrotchr> After the trees had got u
good start aud shaded the ground pretty
well. cultivation generally ceased,
~ il seemed rs though they would take
care If themselves; but June grass
aud some Other grasses and weeds soon
crep, in and partially occupied the
ground, apparently retarding consider
ably the growth of the trees. The
grasses amd'wce,t~ that SCENT tn do most
harm are capable Of growing late In
autumn and early in spring. while there
i no foliage .on the trees 10 shade IA, !
ground or plant, below.
Trees. wherr slightly crowded, |
showed marked difference ia holding
their leaves. White OAK. swamp white |
oak, beech. sugar maple. dogwood, |
hazel. blue beech. choke berries and
poplar> hold their lowrr leaves well. |
White pine, arbOr vitae. red cedar aud
Norway spruce do the same.
To save the expense Of cultivation
after a few years aud To keep out grass.
Prof. Beale states that we need To know
the best nurses. i. e.. the trees. shrubs
Or herbs which hold their leaves we'll in
the shade. For this purpose he has
made complete list Of the broad-lcayrd
underground of the arborrtunI. includ-
ing some sixty species. Some of those
holding their leaves best are black-cap
raspberrieS common milkwced.
desmodium. celandine. Wild a>trrS,
golden-rodS. grape-yineS. seedlings of
many trees or Shrub>--Such - black
cherry. American elm. ,buttcruut. low
willows. catalpas. birches and box
elders.-N u World
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